The crisis rocking Federal Government College, Ikot Ekpene, Akwa Ibom State has shown no sign of abating as the parents of students have petitioned the returnee Principal, Mr. Festus Dappa to the presidency and the state governor, Udom Emmanuel over alleged embezzlement of more than N100 million.
The parents had earlier taken to the street to vent their spleen over what they termed as‘’an inglorious return’’ of the principal, at a time he was yet to exonerate himself from the alleged financial scam running into millions of naira resulting from illegal levies/ fees and imposition of additional charges to school fees.
In a fresh petition letter signed by Mr. Imoh Abam, the PTA chairman and eight others, and copied to President Muhammadu Buhari, Federal Education Minister, Governor Udom Emmanuel, EFCC, DSS, Speaker, Akwa Ibom House of Assembly, among others, the aggrieved parents said having been financially stressed due to illegal levies imposed by Dappa, they decided on the initial petition.
The parents said they felt a sense of relief, when Dappa, after the initial petition and investigations, upon which the team from the federal ministry of education appeared to have protected him, was posted out.
The petition reads in part: “Following complaints by concerned parents, the Federal Ministry of Education reportedly sent a supposed fact-finding team to the college. Also a new Principal, Ms Gogo, D.I was transferred to the college to replace Mr Festus Zappa.
“On Saturday, March 3, 2018, the new Principal met with parents during the PTA general meeting and to our utmost relief, promised to discontinue with the systematic culture of extortion in the college. Similarly, we were assured that Dr A.Ojiezele, the Bursar of the college, has finalised arrangement to refund some of the monies that were illegally collected by the Festus Dappa-led administration to parents.
“But, sad enough, one week after we were given assurances of liberation from the shackles of extortion, his partners and beneficiaries in the Ministry of Education mindlessly re-posted the same corrupt Festus Dappa to the college to sit on his investigation and cover his fraudulent paths.
“And in a mockery of the fight by the present Federal Government against corruption, Mr. Dappa hosted a mini party last week, with his gang in the college to celebrate what they termed “power pass power”, boasting that nobody will investigate his atrocities in the college.”
The parents further alleged that the Principal fraudulently inserted completed and existing projects such as Rehabilitation of Male Block (4No. dormitories), construction of 12 kilometres Parameter Fence as part of the 2017 budget.
“It is specifically instructive to state that the fraud surrounding these two projects is mind-boggling. Therefore, the following information will enhance proper understanding and investigation of these projects; (a) the project listed as ” W2 Rehabilitation of Male Block (4No. Dormitories) FGC, Ikot Ekpene” has already been executed by the PTA/Old Students of the college. This could be verified in the school.
“The parameter fence project listed as “W4 Construction of 12Km parameter fence FGC, Ikot Ekpene” was initiated by the PTA and it is an ongoing PTA project. As at today, over 10km have been completed. It is less than 2km to completion”, they alleged.
The parents also accused Dappa of fraudulently imposing and collecting a mandatory levy of N6,000 from over 5,000 parents per student for the completion of the said parameter fence through a UBA account number 10166866521, even after the parents had taken up and at advanced stage of completion of the said project.
The petition continued: “Beyond the above, the principal has instituted the collection of a minimum of two bags of cement from students as punishment for minor offences in the school, such as late arrival at school, still on the pretext that these bags of cement are to be used to complete the remaining portion of the school fence.
“It is worrisome that despite the above stated heinous frauds, the principal still connived with some corrupt officials in the ministry to organise a bid on September 11, 2017 for these two projects with the aim of defrauding the federal government of the multi-millions naira appropriation for these projects.”
On other illegal fees/ levies, the parents accused the school authority of illegal extortion of N36,000 from each of the 400 students admitted into the junior secondary section during the 2017/2018 school year, additional N1000 as payment for “College Prospectus”, already captured in school fees, ” and acceptance of admission offer of N2000, N1000 for brown A4 envelop as well as N4000 for year book (2017).
The parents also alleged that about 357 graduating SS3 students of the 2016/2017 were further compelled to buy the said yearbook with an additional N4000.
Continuing they said: “The Principal also extorted over N96.6 million (27,000.00) from each of the 357 (2016/2017) graduating students, over what he deceitfully term ‘Special Paint’ before they were cleared to collect their results.
“The Principal has refused to refund the over N10.7 million WAEC fee paid by Akwa Ibom State Government to the school for the beneficiaries (the 357 (2016/2017) graduating students who had earlier paid the WAEC fee to the school.
“He has also imposed a mandatory levy of N500 on all students irrespective of religious faith and belief for Christmas celebration disingenuously tagged ‘Carol Night’, N500 is also extorted from each student for a N50 marker to inscribe the name of each student on their locker and foam, N800 is charged for releasing of school uniforms that were duly paid for, while N300 each is charged for release of textbooks earlier paid for.”
The parents, therefore, called on the Federal Ministry of Education to investigate the allegations to save the institution and its students.
When contacted on phone, Mr. Festus Dappa, the Principal, Federal Government College, Ikot Ekpene, promised to create time to speak with our correspondent on a later date.
